SART TESTER STU-1

Technical description and user manual

SART TESTER STU-1

Technical description and

user manual

V2.01

03.2020
 SART TESTER STU-1
Technical description and user manual

Contents

Item Page

1. Purpose 3

2. General description and specification 4

3. Complete set 5

4. Tester overview and operation 6

5. Setup and operation procedures 7 - 15

5.1. Controls and connection elements 7

5.2. Tester connection to the computer 8
5.3. PC Software 9 - 15

6. Tester calibration 16

7. General guidelines 17

8. Safety precautions 18

9. Storage regulations 19

Contents Page 2
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 SART TESTER STU-1
Technical description and user manual

1. PURPOSE

SART Tester STU-1 (further Tester) is intended to carry out the tests of any Radar-
SART in accordance with the requirement of SOLAS Convention 74/88 and
Recommendations of ITU-R M.628-2 of Maritime Registry of Shipping.

In order to check the Radar-SART the Tester creates the request pulse in automatic
mode with following parameters:
- Carrier frequency of the request pulses - 9350 MHz;
- Request pulse repetition rate - 1000 Hz;
- Duration of request pulse - 1.4 µs.

The Tester allows to perform in automatic mode:

- Signal reception and verifying the frequency in range of 9140..9560 MHz;
- Measurement of response signal duration in range of 50 .. 150 µs;
- Indication of response signal power level in range of 300 .. 950 mW;
- Counting the number of sweeps in response signal;
- Calculation of the distance from SART across radial line on the radar screen;
- Printing of full test report.

Fig.1-1. Tester’s front view

The Tester is designed to operate in range of + 5°С to + 55°С and 95% relative humidity
in internal ship space.

Item 1
Page 3
Purpose
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 SART TESTER STU-1
Technical description and user manual

2. GENERAL DESCRIPTION AND SPECIFICATION

- The Tester requires the connection to a personal computer or laptop by means of USB
port for test performance. Free software is available for Windows and Mac OS;
- Dimensions: 117 mm х 76 mm х 23 mm, weight: 105g.

The Tester creates request pulses with parameters showed in Table 2.1.

Table 2.1
Accuracy
No. Parameter Range (values)
(±)
1. Carrier frequency, MHz 9140…9560
2. Repetition rate, Hz 1000 5%
3. Duration, µs 1.4 5%

The Tester allows to measure the parameters of the response signal according to the
table 2.2.

Table 2.2
Accuracy
No. Parameter Range (values)
(±)
1. Duration, µs 50…150 5%
2. Power level, mW 300..950 2.0 dB

- The tester provides measurements of SART parameters in automatic mode;

- Current consumption of the Tester when working in measurement mode is ≤350 mA;
- The Tester allows to check the SART parameters and display the results on the PC
screen with possibility to print it out.

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General description and specification
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 SART TESTER STU-1
Technical description and user manual

3. COMPLETE SET

Complete set of the tester corresponds to the following Table 3-1.

Tab. 3-1
No. Item Quantity Notice
1 SART TESTER STU-1 1
2 USB-micro USB cable 1
3 Package 1
4 Software 1 free download on:
https://gmdsstesters.com/9ghz-sart-
tester.html
5 Technical description and 1
user’s manual

Item 3.
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Complete set
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Technical description and user manual

4. TESTER OVERVIEW AND OPERATION

The tester is designed to test and control Search and Rescue Radar Transponders
(SART) of any manufacturer in accordance with the requirements of Convention SOLAS-
74/88.

The tester is made in a plastic case and connects to the PC or laptop through USB
cable. It is controlled by special software included in the complete set.

The tester allows to measure/calculate the following SART parameters in automatic

mode:
- Signal reception and verifying the frequency;
- Measurement of duration of response signal;
- Indication of power level of response signal;
- Counting the number of sweeps in response signal;
- Calculation of the distance from SART across radial line on the radar screen.

The result of the test is displayed on the PC screen and can be saved to create and print
the test report.

Item 4.
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Tester overview and operation
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 SART TESTER STU-1
Technical description and user manual

5. SETUP AND OPERATION PROCEDURES

5.1 Controls and connection elements.

There are two LEDs on the bottom panel of the Tester (Fig. 5-1).

Fig. 5-1. LEDs disposition

The GREEN LED indicates that the tester is ready for operation.
The RED LED indicates the beginning of the measurement.

When RED LED is constantly illuminating the Tester emit a pulse request, but has not
yet received the SART sweep signal.

When RED LED is flashing the Tester is receiving SART sweep signal.

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Setup and operation procedures
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Technical description and user manual

5.2 Tester connection to the computer.

If required the driver should be installed when the Tester is turned on and connected for
the first time to PC.
http://www.st.com/en/development-tools/stsw-stm32102.html

After the driver installation STMicroelectronics Virtual Com Port with serial number
should appear in device manager. Figure 5-2 shows an example with a connected
tester.

Fig. 5-2. Connected Tester in device manager

It is not required to install drivers on Windows 10 or Mac OS, just on older Windows
versions.

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Setup and operation procedures
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Technical description and user manual

5.3 PC SOFTWARE

After connecting the tester start the software with double click on its icon, the working
window of the program will appear (Figure 5-3).

Figure 5-3. Working window of the program

5.3.1. DOWNLOAD DATA menu

Click on the "DOWNLOAD DATA" tab in the upper left corner of the program, the
program will try to connect to the Tester.

If the Tester does not connect automatically, it can be connected manually by pressing
CONNECT MANUALLY button.

Follow the instructions in software. Install drivers if required.

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Setup and operation procedures
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Technical description and user manual

5.3.2. SART measurement window

After the Tester is connected the SART measurement window should appear on the
screen. Example in figure 5-4.

Figure 5-4. SART measurement window

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Setup and operation procedures
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Technical description and user manual

5.3.3. Beginning of SART measurement

To begin the measurement it is necessary to:

1. Click on the START TEST tab in the program window as shown in Figure 5-5.
2. Turn on the SART

The test will be finished automatically when all data is correctly measured.

Figure 5-5. START TEST Tab

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Setup and operation procedures
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3. Place the Tester at a distance of 0.2 m from the SART antenna as shown in Figure
5-6.

Figure 5-6. SART measurement process

4. Changing the distance and slightly turning the Tester try to achieve a clear picture of
the sweep signal on the graph and wait for the end of the measurement.

The measurement is successful if the Check passed indicator turns green and the
Tester stops producing audio signal. The successful measurement is shown in
Figure 5-7.

Figure 5-7. Successful SART measurement

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Setup and operation procedures
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Technical description and user manual

5.3.4. Measurement parameters

After successful measurement the following parameters are displayed:

- Indication of the minimum and maximum sweep signal frequency. The result OK
means that the frequencies are within the range of acceptable values;
- Power level in mW;
- Duration of the received signal in us;
- Number of received signal sweep pulses;
- Distance from the SART position across radial line on the radar screen in nm.

5.3.5. Report saving and print out

.
The SART TESTER program allows to save measured parameters, generate and print
TEST REPORT.

To save the measured parameters click on the SAVE MEASUREMENT tab as shown in
Figure 5-8.

Figure 5-8. Saving of the measured parameters

After saving the measurement parameters the TEST RESULTS table is displayed on the
screen:

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Technical description and user manual

Figure 5-9. TEST RESULTS table

Click the DETAILS key to input additional data like SART, vessel details etc. to be used
in test report.

Figure 5-10. DETAILS key

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Setup and operation procedures
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Technical description and user manual

To generate a measurement report click the details tab and then GENERAL TEST
REPORT.

Figure 5-11. GENERAL TEST REPORT

To print the report, press the PRINT key or export to PDF/DOC.

Figure 5-12. Test report

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Setup and operation procedures
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Technical description and user manual

6. TESTER CALIBRATION

The Tester is a complex special-use electric device. Thus, only manufacturer should
calibrate it by means of specialized equipment.

The Tester should be calibrated every two years, but no more than 1000 cycles of
measurements.

Item 6.
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Tester calibration
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Technical description and user manual

7. GENERAL GUIDELINES

It is necessary to keep the Tester in package for at least two hours in normal conditions
after it was substantial temperature variations in the warehouse and working areas.

After storage in conditions of high humidity the Tester must be kept in normal conditions
for 12 hours before turning ON.

Item 7.
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General guidelines
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Technical description and user manual

8. SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

Before operating with SART Tester please read this Technical description and user’s
manual, and attend safety training.

Item 8.
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Safety precautions
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Technical description and user manual

9. STORAGE REGULATIONS

The device should be stored in package in warehouse locations defending it from

atmospheric precipitation, fumes of acid, alkali and other aggressive substances.

Temperature in warehouse should be from 278 K (5°С) up to 313 K (about 40°С) and
relative humidity of air no more than 80%.

Item 9.
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Storage regulations
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